Newsletter
GRAND JUSTICE INTERPRETS LABOR STANDARDS LAW
In an interpretation dated 18 November 1999, the Council of Grand Justices noted that the Labor Standards Law was enacted to impose minimum standards for working conditions in order to protect workers' rights, improve industrial relations and promote social and economic development. Article 84-1 of the law, as added by the amendment of 27 December 1996, provides that special work of a supervisory, intermittent or other nature is not subject to the provisions of the law regarding working hours, public holidays, paid leave and women's night work. Article 84-1 came into force on 27 December 1996 and is not retroactive in its effect. In other words, the amended law cannot be applied to special work performed before the amendment took effect. Accordingly, if such work performed before 27 December 1996 did not comply with the law's provisions regarding working hours, holidays, leave etc., it was illegal.